Centrifugal



l Nov. 12, 1929.

Filed Feb. 21, 192'? L. J. BARRETT 1,735,523

CENTRIFUGAL 2 sheets-sheet 1 NV. l2, 1929. 1 BARRETT 1,735,523

CENTRIFUGAL Filed Feb. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 50M/m@ M to provide a support for the lvertical shaftA side Patented Nov. 12, 1929 LEON J) BARRETT; oF WORCESTER, MassacnUsETTs CENTRIIUGAL Appuoaun mea February 21, 1927. serial no. 169,832.

This invention relates to a centrifugal machine for separating liquids' from solids or a heavy liquid from a lighter one.

The principal objects of thelnvention are of the machine located in such position as to centralize the shaft at the extreme bottom for the purpose of diminishing or eliminating vibration; to provide means for taking the thrust near the supporting means; to flexible means to hold therotating unit in upright sition when it is being loaded or unloa ed; to provide means by which steam or a cleaning solution can be piped into the machine While the machine is running for the purpose of cleaning the solid materials which have been lacted upon;

provide and to provide practical connections by which these results can be accomplished.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings. in which v c.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view, with parts in side elevation, showing a preferred embodiment ofA this invention complete and driven by gearing; f

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a corresponding machinewith the lower part in elevation and motor driven vand without the steam arrangement; .Fig. 3 is -a central sectional view of the bearings and motor connection for the same; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fie. 3.

lzteferring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have shown a centrifugal machinek comprising a casing 10 and a perforated revolvable container 11 therein fixed to a verticalshaft 12. The container has a cover 9 which rotates with it. The casing or tank 10 has a circular top 8 on which lits a coverff. The shaft 12 is sustained by roller bearings 13 and is driven from a-power shaft 14. This shaft drives a vertical shaft 15 by bevel gears 16 which in turn by gear 18 drives an external gear 17 on a rotatable spider 19. This spider is sustained by roller bearings 21 on a central hub 20, fixed on the base 22 of the machine.

The spider 19 carries at the top and in central alignment with the hub 20 and the shaft 12, a ball 23 which fits in a hemi-spherical recess in the bottom of a head 24 which is fixed to the bottom of the shaft 12 to rotate with it. This constitutes a pivot seat for the shaft located at, or be ond, its lower "end, The spider 19 carries our studs 25 evenly spaced around the pivot seat, each one having a spherical head or roll 26 at thetop entering a drilled hole 27 in the bottom of a head 24. These take the side thrust. v

The inner race of the roller bearing 13 is mounted on a sleeve provided with a space in which is a coil spring 28 around the shaft, bearing in a groove 2 9 at the top vof the hub 24. These parts of course 'rotate together. The outer race of the roller bearing is mounted in the top of a housing 31 which extends down around the parts -below and is spaced therefrom. This has a seriesof drilled holes 32 extending up from the bottom for receiv ing studs 33 mounted on the base and having spherical heads like the studs 25 for taking the side thrust.

The housing 31 at the bottom which is provided with openings, preferably four around the center, each one .provided with a flexibly supported rod 35,extending through it and extending up through a hole in a projecting part 37 on the base. These parts are yieldingly separated has a horizontal flange 34 base and constitutein effect flexible legs tending to hold the rotating unitin upright position. The flexibility of these legs .is helpful owing to the unbalanced loads which occur in the loading ,and unloading of the container 11 and the nature of the material therein. y i

It will be seen that the bearing 23 is at or beyond the end of the shaft. This centralizes ythe lower end of the shaft and prevents vibration at that point. When the machine starts to accelerate, it wabbles and the spring legs 35 assist in steadying it by compression as the wabbling takes place in the early stages. Either function is merely to steady the rotating unit in an upright positionfwhen it is being loaded and started to rotate.

load, it cannot vibrate to the point of shaking` the machine. This vis due to the fact-that the action is gyroscopic and does nothave enough opposition to cause vibration.

Another feature is shown at the top' of the machine .in Fig. 1. The shaft 12 is screwthreaded at its top with a coarse thread and provided with a steam inlet 40 down through the/center which communicates with grooves 41 inthe interior of a sleeve 42 on the shaftl 12. These grooves: have outlets 43 near the .bottom of the container 11. Steam is admitted to these parts through steam pipe 44 and a flexible hose 45 or another fluid cleansing medium through pipe v44". `This flexible hose passes through an opening in the bottom flange'of the cover 46 and into a nonrotatable steam head 47 on top of the shaft which has a space therein communicating with the passage 40. This is to permit the steam to be forced through the articles in the centrifugal container 11 for cleaning-the same when desired. These parts aremade A steam tight by a packing 48 between the head 47 and a stuliing box 49 rotating with the shaft 12 and carrying the ball bearing. On the box 49 is fixed a wrench 6() for use in taking it off the shaft. A lock nut having a projecting handle 61 is also'shown.

The steam is vused for. this purpose after the centrifugal has operated to separate the liquid as much as possible. The centrifugal force draws it linto the swirl and causes it to permeate the contents of the `container. It passes to the rim where it is expelled to 5d the outer drum or casing 10 which confinesJ its direction to the base reservoir or orifice of discharge. lThus a washing and drying l"machine is obtained for small metal articles which are covered with eil or other soluble substance and require cleaning for plating, packing and the like.

In Fig. 2, I have shown the invention in f a simpler form in which the parts not otherwise referred to are made the same as above described. Here the .central shaft 12 is operated by a motor 50 directly mounted there- Ton. Here the socket bearing is attached to the 'motor rhousing 56 and does not-revolve. It centralige'sthe lower end of the shaft as in i the otheriicase and the four studs 25 are used as before and likewise the flexiblek4 legs 35.` Y

The construction of'these legs may ybe the same as in the other case. Of course it will vbe seen here that the central spherical bear" ing 23 is mounted on the base 52 i'n this case directly and not through another element.

The bottom of the shaft 12 is supported in' a roller Abearing 53 which is mounted ina hub at the bottom of the housing 56. A plate 54 supports the centrifugal through the bearing 23.

This is an electrical direct driven const'ruction having the same advantages as the gear ydriven arrangement shownin Fig. 1.. The

steam connections a're not shown in these figures for the sake of simplicity.

Although I have illustrated and described only two forms of the invention I. am aware ofthe fact"that other modifications can be made therein by any erson skilled in the art without departing rom the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore, I do notwish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1'. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a vertical shaft and a perforated container fixed thereto near the top thereof, bearings for'the shaft 4separated widely apart, one of themvbeing located at the bottom and the other at afpoint just below the container, a pivotal support for the shaft located at the bottom of the shaft .and in fixed position, a

member at the bottom of the shaft fixed with respect thereto having a hemi-spherical bearingfor said pivotal support and provided with openings therein extending upwardly from the bottom, and aplurality of studs located in fixed position and projecting up into said openings for receiving the side thrust and limiting the lateral motion of 'the'shaft about said support.

2.A Ina centrifugal extractor, the combination with a vertical shaft and a perforated container mounted at the top thereof, of a housing surrounding the shaft at the bottom A. and extending downwardly, a universal bearing for the shaft below-the bottom thereof within the housing, means connected with the housingfor holding the shaft in vertical posi,- tion under unbalanced loads, a support below the bottom of the shaft having means extend- `ing upwardly for taking the side thrust from the shaft, means on a stationar part of the base of the machine for taking t e side thrust f the housing, a gear on said support, and geared means for driving said gear to rotate the shaft.

3. In a centrifugal machine,the1combina tion with a vertical shaft supported at the bottom only, a universal bearing at the bottom for supporting the shaft and a container mounte on the upper end of the shaft, of means for driving the shaft at a high rate of speed connected with the shaft at a point near the lower end thereof means for introducing steam into the top of said shaft from above, and a sleeve fixed to thecontainer for receiving said shaft, said sleeve having passages for conducting the steam downwardly and outwardly in a radial direction into the bottom of a container.

4. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a vertical shaft and a container mounted near the top thereof, said shaft havi ing a passage down through it from the top, and means in ,the shaft for conducting a fluid through the passage and into the bottom of the container, of a head at the top of the shaft, means for introducing fluid into the head and down through the shaft, and a packing between the stationary steam head and the rotary shaft.

5. In a centrifugal machine, the'combination with a vertical shaft and a container mounted near the top thereof, said shaft having a passage down through it from the top, y

of a head at the top of the shaft, means for introducinguid into the head and down lthrough the shaft, a box mounted to rotate with the shaft, and a packing'between t-he rotary box and stationary steam head.

6. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a vertical shaft and a perforated container mounted near the top thereof, said shaft having a passage downthrough it from the top, and means for conducting a .fluid through the passage and into the bottom of' the container, of a steam head at the top of the shaft, means for introducing steam lnto the head and down through the shaft, a box surrounding the top of the shaft and rotatable therewith, said box and head supporting the two parts of a ball bearing, a wrench carried by the box, anda lock nut `also carried by the` box and having a handle for loosening it.

7. In ay centrifugal machine, the combination'with a vertical shaft and acontainer mounted at the top thereof, with a housing having bearings .for the shaft located below the container and laterally movable therewith but not rotatable, a universal bearing for the shaft below the bottom thereof, a stationary base, and a spider rotatable on the base and supporting said universal bearing.

8. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a vertical shaft supported at the bottom only, a -universal bearing at the bottom for supporting the shaft and a container mounted on the upper end of the shaft, of a motor, a spider to which the motor is geared for driving the shaft connected with the shaft at a series of points near the lower end thereof, and a bearing for the spider below the bottom of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afixed my signature.

LEON'J. BARRETT. 

